2012 NFL Free Agents: Offensive Players the San Diego Chargers Must Re-Sign

I've already gone on at length on how the San Diego Chargers must retain wide receiver Vincent Jackson to ensure the team's offense remains viable.

There are several other key players the Chargers have to bring back if the team expects to contend in 2012.

First on the list are backfield mates Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert. Hester has turned into one of the NFL's most reliable fullbacks, and he can also carry the ball in a pinch. He has become an invaluable part of an offense that tries to remain balanced, and finding a solid fullback is not always easy.

The Chargers are expected to make a strong push to bring him back (via UT San Diego).

As for Tolbert, he really wanted to get a long-term deal done before he became an unrestricted free agent. Now that he's set to hit the open market, Tolbert could command a decent amount of coin, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interested (via TBO.com).

Tolbert is only 26 and has shown how good he can be, and at different times has been dominant as a runner, receiver and special teams player. He's a huge part of the team, and it would be a big blow to lose him.

The other guy I think the Chargers must re-sign is Nick Hardwick. Hardwick is only 30 years old and when healthy, he is one of the league's best centers. He is too is an unrestricted free agent and San Diego must decide what to do about him.

With All-Pro guard Kris Dielman possibly headed to retirement (via the NC Times) and Marcus McNeill likely to be waived (via UT San Diego), the Chargers simply can't afford to replace three long-time starting offensive linemen.

To be fair, I think Dielman will return, and while Hardwick has contemplated retirement, according to Sign on San Diego, I think his good friend will convince him to return as well. It is up to the Chargers to get a deal done with the former Pro Bowler who has been with the team since being drafted as a third-round pick out of Purdue in 2004. 

If the Chargers can convince Hester, Tolbert and Hardwick to return, it will make piecing the offense back together a whole lot easier, and make contending in the AFC West next season a real possibility.